In the above video Pula is represented before and after Austro-Hungarian Empire reconstruction. The song is performed by Franci Blaskovic in three languages that were almost equally used during the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Pula.

On the pictures you will note the Roman influnce. It is known that during the Roman Empire Pula was one of the richest towns of the Empire for few centuries. This was mainly due to the quality of the Istrian olive oil and relationship that Roman Emperors (Augustus, Vespasianus) had with Pula.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and withdrawal of the Byzantium Empire from Istria Pula's decadence slowly started and will end in the mid 19th century with the arrival of Vienna's influence.

The fall of these two major civilisations ruined the town and most of its artworks ended up in vairous parts of the world such as Ravenna, Genoa and Venice. In 14th century the wars and almost three centuris with 40 plague years reduced Pula's population to about 100 people according to the sources from the mid 17th century.

Venetian Republic wanted to transfer most of the monuments to Venice. At the time the main reason was to prevent the complete destruction but in end their Senat decided the less expensive measures that was to cover most of the monuments with send and land that later on Napoleon started to dig.

Pula's second Renaissance started with Austro-Hungarian Empire in mid 19th century when Austro Hungarian Empire was investing in Pula for several decades one third of their Naval Military Budget. I am pleased to share the following two videos of the towns that had strong influence with their culture and architecture on Pula in its 3000 years old history.

The first video is describing Rome through pictures and a song that recall "La Dolce Vita" period. I grew up near Pula's Arena and the first time I visited Rome I remember the same smell in the air I perceived as a kid playing around Arena. 

Later on for business I stayed many times at Hotel Eden in Rome and I heard that also famous Fellini liked that Hotel. The following song represents most of the beauties of Rome - the ethernal town, and the song is "molto Felliniana".